Fence-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(ModeL) 0. 1E. BART'LING. 'FENGE MACHINE.

No. 392,981. Patented Nov. 20, 188.8.

Lulull 8 M WITNESSES CONRAD F. BARTLING,

Erica.

ATENT on GREENVILLE, OHIO.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,981, dated November20, 1888.

Application filed September 26,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CONRAD F. BARTLING, acitizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Greenville, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and .useful Improvementin Fence-Machines,ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of fencemaking machines by means ofwhich a fence is formed by twisting wires on either side of verticalpalings or pickets, and has particular relation to the improvement of myformer inventiou, for which Letters Patent No. 350,967, under date ofOctober 19, 1886, were granted me.

The objects of my invention are to provide an adjustable support for thetwisting-post above the proposed line of fence and to so counect saidpost and support as to admit of the former being made to travel backwardandforward on the latter, thereby obviating the difficulty usuallyexperienced in forming a ground-track; to combine with-said elevatedsupport an adjustable guide-plate adapted to be made to travel. and bearon the upper ends of the pickets; to so construct the twistingtube as toadmit of the entrance therein of the waste oil from the tube-boxing, andto admit of the passage therethrough of any enlargement of the wire,such as may be caused by a connection of two wire ends; to formadjustable bearings for the vertical portion of the operating-levelgtoattach to said operatinglever two or more picket-pushing arms; toprovide a suitable wirecoupling device; to provide-the stretching ortension post with adj ustable tension-plates; to form a suitablewireholding reel, and to so construct myimproved fence-making machine asto greatly facilitate the manufacture of fencing, These objects Iaccomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a perspective view of my im proved machine in positionfor use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the wire-reel. Fig. at isa vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is aplan View in detail of a picket-pressing arm detached. Fig. (i is a planview of one of the adjustable bearing-arms for the operating-lever. Fig.7 is an end view of said bearingarm. Fig. 8 is a plan View of thestretching-post, showing tension- 1887. ScrialNo.250,G88. (ModeL) plateand wireseparator. Fig. 9 is an end View of'the tension-plate. Fig. 10is an end view of one of the twister sprocketwhcels. Fig. 11 is a sideelevation of the same, showing the twister-tube. Fig. 12 is an enlargedView of the remaining end of the tube, showing the operating-crankconnected therewith. Fig. 13 is a side view of the picket top plate andits connecting-ar1n, and Fig. 14 is a front View of the same.

Similar letters refer to similarparts throughout the several views.

' A represents the twisting-post, which, be- 6 ing supported, ashereinafter described, above the ground, extends upward to a point atthe desired height above the proposed fence.

B represents a horizontal track-bar, forming a track and made to extendabove the line of the fence-top, in which position it is supported bymeans of front and rear stay-arms, b b b. The arm I) is pivoted to thefront end of the track, while the arms I) b are made to straddle theline of the fence, being inclined toward each other at the top, andpivoted one on each-side of the remaining end of the track, as shown inFig. l of the drawings. These stay-arms have their lower ends resting onor inserted in the ground.

a represents a vertical wheel bearing-arm or post-extension having itslower end secured to the upper portion of the twisting-post, and havingj ournaled to its upper portion a grooved track wheel or roller, a, thelatter being, as 8 hereinafter described,made to bear and run on thetrack B.

Loosely inclosed within suitable metallic boxing-plates, (l, the latterbeing secured at desired points on one side of the twister-post, 0 aremetallic twisting-tubes 0, each of the latter having formed therewith onits front end a I sprocket-wheel,c. Each of the twisting-tubes isprovided with two horizontal partitionplates, 0 and a vertical centralconnecting- 5 bolt, c, and has a horizontal slotted opening,

0*, in each of its sides, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings.

The front end of the twister-tube is closed, with the exception of twooppositely-located 10o openings or eyes, 0 which communicate,respectively, with the compartments of the tube formed by the partitions0 Made to project forwardly from the front side of the twisterof thesebearing-arms is secured, as hereinafter described, a picket-pressingarm, E, having one or more perforations, e, a short open slot, 0, in itsrear end, and a partially hookshaped projection, 0, formed on its frontend. Said picket-pressing arms are rigidly secured in their positionsabove and below the bearing-arms D by means of the vertical portion ofan operating-leveiyF,which passes through one of the perforations e ofthe upper one of said picket-pressers, to which it is keyed or otherwisesecured. It then passes loosely through a central opening in a smallbearingblock, (1', the latter having on one side thereof teeth W, andbeing of such shape as, when seated, as shown, between the flanged sidesof the arm D, to cause its teeth to interlock with those of the rack d,and to bring its upper surface flush with the upper side of said arm,and thence through the block d. The leverrod is continued downward andconnects in a similar manner the lower picket-presser andbearing-arm,terminating in an outward bend, as shown. Immediately abovethe upper picket-pushing arm the lever-rod is also bent outwardly toform a lever-handle, f.

f represents a vertical shifting-bar having projecting from its innerside, at two or more points corresponding with the positions of the wirestrands used in forming the fence, notched lugs f*. This shifting-bar isprovided on its outer side with two laterally-projecting metallic arms,f said arms being pivoted, respectively, to the upper and lowerpicketpressers and lever-arms by means of pivotbolts f made to passvertically through the outer ends of the arms f and into the slots 6 ofthe picket-presser arms E.

H represents a metallic arm bolted to and depending from the track 13,near the front end of the latter.

h represents a sliding guide-plate having lateral flanges and a flaringmouth at its rear end to facilitate its passage upon the top of thepickets. This flanged guide-plate is adapted to be made to fit looselyand slide over the tops of the pickets, embracing two or more of thelatter at a time, and is provided on one side with anoutwardly-projecting pin, it, having an elongated head running in thedirection of the length of the plate. An adjustable connection is formedbetween the guide-plate and vertical arm 11 by turning the said plate toa vertical position," inserting the pin h through the desired one of avertically-arranged row of elongated openings, H formed in the arm H,and then lowering the plate until in its proper position on the pickets.

G represents an endless chain belt, which,as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, passes over and engages with the teeth of the sprocketwheel 0.Motion is communicated to said sprocket-wheel by means of a crank-arm,I, having at its front end two diverging curved fingers, i, adapted topartially embrace the rear projecting end of the upper twisting-tube, c,to which said fingers are secured by set-screws or otherwise.

J represents my improved wire-feeding reels, one of which is mountedloosely on each side of the center of a horizontal shaft, J, said shaftbeing supported at its center by means of a vertical arm, J having anelongated base, J, which rests upon the ground. Each of said reelsconsists of four or more circular wheels or rings, K, having a number offlattened spokes, 70, which are bolted at their inner ends to a flatdisk orhub,7c, thelatter being mounted loosely on the shaft.

At equidistant pointson each of the spokes 7c are formed perforationsIt, said perforations being designed to receive horizontal rods k. Saidrods, being passed through corresponding holes in each of the spokes ofareel, form, as will be seen, a circular frame between each of thereel-bands, on which is placed, as hereinafter described, the wire to beused. This double reel is placed at the desired distance from thetwisting-post and on the proposed line of fence. In Fig. 1, the reelsbeing represented in perspective and on a smaller scale than in Figs. 3and 4-, the dividing-arms of each spool of said reel have not beenshown, to prevent confusion of lines.

Between the reels and twisting-post is located a vertical stretching ortension post, L. The ends of the wires on running from the reels (onwhich there are preferably six coils) extend forwardly in pairs, eachpair of wires being held against one side of the stretcherpost, ashereinafter described, at points respectively opposite thetwisting-tubes, from which points they extend forward and pass throughsaid twisting-tubes, one wire through each compartment m, and pass outthrough the eyes 0 [represents the tension plates, each consisting of ametal plate having a central bolthole, and having its inner surfaceprovided with two shallow grooves,-between which at the rear end of saidplate are made to project binding-lugs l. A bolt, Z", is made to passthrough the central bolt-hole of the plate and thence through the postL, the head of the bolt bearing on the center of the plate, and a nut onits outer end holding it in place and regulating the tension of thewires, while the lugs Z of the plate bear against the rear side of thepost and relieve the bolt Z" of lateral strain.

Each pair of wires from the reel is made to pass between one of theseplates and the tension-post, or between the plate and a washer ormetallic collar, which may be made to surround the bolt and bear againstthe post. A similar collar may also be located between the bolt-nut andpost.

A wire-coupling device, N, consisting of two or more metal collars, ismade to bear on ICC i the last twists.

opposite sides of the wires by means of a central bolt made to passthrough said collars and between the wires. The purpose of said couplingis to secure together the two wires of a strand and cause them to pullwith the same tension upon the reels of wire.

In order to prevent the sagging of the wire, stretching chains or ropeso are attached to the post L, and from thence extend to the verticalframe-arm J of the rail to which it is attached, and thence to a stake,P, driven in rear of the reel.

The operation of my device is as follows: All of the bands or wheelsbeing removed from the reel-shaft, except the two which are adjacent tothe vertical framc-arm J and the horizontal rods It being insertedthrough the desired holes in said wl1eel-spokes,a bundle of wire isslipped over each set of said rods and the next dividing-wheel placed inposition on the rods, said operationbeing continued until the reel iscompleted. The reel is then placed on the proposed line of fenceadjoining or near the twisting-post, the latter being suspended, asdescribed, at a point adjacent to the first post. The ends of the wiresfrom the reel are then threaded in pairs through the respectivetwisting-tubes, one wire through each compartinent m, and thence outthrough the eyes 0 thence around the first post, where the ends of eachpair of wires are united. The reel is then wheeled back to the desireddistance and the tension-post placed in position. One or more turns ofthe twisting-tubes are then given by means of the crank-arm I, thuscausing the wires to be twisted together in rearot' the post. A picketis then inserted vertically between the wires, the twisting-post movedslightly forward, (the track-wheel a traveling on its track 13,) and thesame number of turns given the twister as before, although in theopposite direction. Twopicketshaving been placedvertically true in thismanner, the third picket is then inserted between the wires and theshifting-bar f swung toward the fence, its notched lugs f 2 being madeto engage with the twisted wires between the last two fast pickets toform a leverage for the lever-handle f, which is then pushed back,causing the twisting-post to move forward and the hooked ends e of thepicketpressing arms to press the picket about to be secured into avertical position firmly against The crank-arm may again be turned, asdescribed,the shifting leverage-bar released and placed between the lasttwo fast pickets, and the operation repeated. Meanwhile thewires usedare escapi ng from t-hereels, and are held with the desired degree oftension by means of the tension-plates Z, and are compelled to pullthrough the tension plates evenly by means of the coupling device N.\Vhen two pickets have been secured in place, the arm H, depending fromthe track B, is secured, as before described, to the guide-- plate h atthe desired height. The guideplate h,besides forming a level to regulatethe upward extension of the pickets, serves as a support for the track,the stay I) being released from the ground after the fence is started.The height of the fence is indicated by means of a pin, 8, projectingfrom the desired hole in a picket-gage, s, the latter con sisting of avertical perforated bar having a rearwardly and slightly forwardlyextending arm projecting from its rear edge and supported between theupper portion of the upper boxing-plate and the side of the twisting)ost.

1 It will be observed that the slots 0 of the twistiugtubes will admitthe waste oil from the boxing onto the wires, which, as is well known,will greatly decrease the friction on the wires when being twisted. Itwill also be seen that the leverbearing blocks d may be seated at anypoint within their bearing-arms, thus making the lever-rod adjustable,as may be desirable, in changing the space between pickets.

When it is desired to change the position of.

the reels, the base J may be raised until at right angles with theposition above described, thus letting the wheels or bands drop to theground and admitting of the reel being wheeled to the desiredposition,whieh, as will be seen, will cause the wire to unwind from thereel.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fence-machine, the combination of the twisting-post A, havingthe extension at and track-roller a thereon, with the elevated track 13,an inclined stay, I), carrying said track at one end and two inclinedstays, b, at the other, the latter stays being united together at thetop and straddling the line of fence, substantially as and for thepurpose de scribed.

2. The combination, with the elevated horizontal track B, supported asdescribed, of the vertical arm H, bolted to said track and to ahorizontal guide-bar, h, adj ustably secured thereto and adapted to restand slide on the picket-tops of a fence, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. The combination of the twistingpost suspended as described, theflanged bearingarms D, having rack d and adjustable bearingblock (1,with the double-armed lever F, pivoted therein, and the picket-presserE, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the twisting-post suspended as described, theflanged bearingarms D, having racks dand adjustable bearingblocks d,ofthe double-armedlever F, carrying picket-pressers E, and the verticalshifting-bar f, pivotally connected with the lever-arms andpicket-pressing arms and having notched projections f substantially asand for the purpose specified.

5. The combination ofthe twisting-post suspended as described,thefianged bearing-arms D, having racks (1, adjustable bearing-blocks d,and picketgage s, with the double-armed lever F, carryingpicket-pressers E, and the vertical shifting-bar f, pivotally connected,

as described, with the lever-arms and picketpressing arms. and havingnotched projections f, substantially as and for the purpose speci- 5fied.

6. lhe combination of the tension-post L and its adjustable tension andguide plate Z, having laterally-projecting lugs Z, with the Wirecouplingdevice N, consisting of a bolt and IO collars, the latter made toembrace the wires forminga strand on each side of said bolt, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In afeed-reel for fence-machines, the combination of thesupporting-frame J" J with the shaft J, the separating bands or wheelsK, and perforated spokes is, connected by means of removable reel-rods,substantially as described.

8. In a fence-machine, the combination 01' 20 the twister-post movabl-ysupported, as described, With thetwisting-tubes, their sprocket- CONRADF. BARTLING.

\Vitnesses:

G. W. OALDERWOOD, G. W. BURNETT.

